Here are some of the top Butler County high school graduates to excel in athletics at Slippery Rock University:

Men

Jim Geist (Knoch) 1986-89 — Four-time All-American and PSAC champion in the javelin, two-time PSAC Outdoor Championships MVP, SRU and PSAC Championship meet javelin record holder.

Mike Sikorski (Knoch) 2000-03 — Outfielder-pitcher, all-region player, 2.76 career earned run average, ranks 4th in career slugging percentage, 9th with 20 homers.

Brandon Fusco (Seneca Valley) 2006-10 — All-American football center, Upshaw Award winner as best lineman in Division II, drafted by Minnesota Vikings, 8-year NFL career.

Josh Kniess (Slippery Rock) 2002-05 — Football program record holder with 5,188 all-purpose yards and 6 punt return touchdowns; 2nd all-time with 46 TDs, 4th with 3,527 rushing yards.

Dan DeCola (Karns City) 2000 — Stellar catcher in baseball, PSAC West Athlete of the Year, drafted in 16th round by Minnesota Twins.

Ryan Thompson (Slippery Rock) 2012-17 — SRU record holder in outdoor 1,500 meters and indoor mile, part of program’s indoor distance medley relay record team.

Women

Kathy Lisman (Mars) 1978-81 — Holds SRU women’s basketball record of 311 total steals and 3.2 steals per game, ranks 2nd with 422 assists, 5th with 4.3 assists per game.

Jenna Geibel (Butler) 2010-13 — Four-time All-PSAC West as softball third baseman, 2nd in program history with .377 batting average, 2nd with .682 slugging percentage, 3rd with 33 homers, 120 RBI.

Jasmine Bailey (Butler) 2012-17 — Eight-time PSAC champion, holds SRU indoor records in 200 and 400 meters, outdoor record in 200.

Lacey Cochran (Freeport) 2006-09 — 12-time PSAC Champion and an All-American, holds SRU outdoors 400-meter record, part of indoor and outdoor 4x400 record relay.

Heather Kearney (Slippery Rock) 1995-98 — SRU career women’s basketball scoring leader with 1,760 points, All-American, ranks 2nd at SRU with 18.5 points per game, 460 free throws, 3rd with 949 rebounds, 5th with .804 free throw percentage.

Jayne Beatty (Moniteau) 1981-85 — Six-time All-American, four-time PSAC outdoor champion in shot put, three times in discus, SRU record-holder in outdoor shot put and discus, indoor shot put.